On the Same Poem 2012

On The Same Poem celebrates dynamic Georgia performance artist and poet, Dr. Doris
Davenport. The award-winning poet and Stillman College professor is our special
guest for Forsyth County Public Library’s On The Same Poem Luncheon. Dr. Davenport’s
featured poems, “Conversation with a Ladybug” and “hot (another list)”, are from
her acclaimed collection of new poetry Ascent. Please bring a brown bag
lunch and join us for lunch with Dr. Davenport. Space is limited. To reserve seats,
call 336-703-3022 or email Candace
Brennan.

On the Same Poem Luncheon
April 26, 2012 at Noon
Central Library Auditorium

Forsyth County Public Library’s On the Same Poem Luncheon has become a staple of
National Poetry Month in Forsyth County. On The Same Poem, an extension of On The
Same Page—the county’s annual Community Read Project—is the shared experience of
reading and discussing a poem, selected for the occasion by the featured poet. Dr.
Doris Davenport will be reading “Conversation with a Ladybug” and “hot (another
list)” from her poetry collection, Ascent. Over a brown bag lunch, participants
will meet the young people who win this year’s poetry contest and discuss the poems,
facilitated by discussion leaders at each table. The luncheon will conclude with
Dr. Davenport answering questions from the audience. Make your reservation today!

"Conversation with a Ladybug (Good luck if you see one, if one lights on you.)"

an orange-red tinyspot of comatosity,
on my airless desk in this
sunbaked, stale aired classsroom,
she seemed unconscious, dead

until I prodded her, politely, with a left index finger. then tiny black
feeler feet emerged, moved,
weakly she pulled herself up my finger

like it was a rubber raft lifesaver in a rough ocean
floating wood in the debris
of her own mini Titanic, like
my finger was a lost & feared

gone forever friend she’d waited so long for,
she clung tenaciously to my
finger, roamed slowly its
surface as i lifted her tenderly

outside to air but
she held tight had to
prise her off & onto the
shrub-tree deep orange autumn
leaf outside Holley Hall suddenly
she flew. away.

Ascent by Doris Davenport

Ascent is an eclectic collection of new poetry including an innovative
"text-in-body" section. Topics range from rhythms of everyday life and the nature
of things in our existence to the highly controversial and political (as well as
disturbingly, intimately personal), to the softly humorous and quietly meditative.
Doris Davenport delightfully explains that her poem are “to be performed and / or
not.” Along with the new poems, the illustrations and photographs are by the author.

More about Doris Davenport

The Nature of Things: Poetry/Rap/Song Contest for Young People

This year we have a poetry contest for young people in middle school and high school.
Entry forms can be found at any Forsyth County Public Library, or from student’s
teachers and media specialists. The prizes will be awarded in the two age groups
and winners will receive signed copies of Ascent by Doris Davenport, Barnes and
Noble gift cards, and lunch with the poet at our On The Same Poem Luncheon on April
26 at noon at Central library auditorium.